Members of the Friends are
invited to consider helping restore and maintain the perennial garden
on Druid Hill. Work will begin on Monday 8 March at 9am and on
successive Mondays until the main restoration work is complete.
Thereafter there will be a maintenance role for volunteers.
Coordinators for this project are Ros Iles and Kert Snater and we are
looking for volunteers to pitch in to help get this garden restored to
its former glory.
Background
The Committee of the
Friends of the Botanic Garden have learned that Garden management has
decided to remove the perennial garden at the top of the Camellia
garden on Druid Hill (between the Listening Device and the Rudderstone)
and replace it with shrubs. The reason is pressure on Botanic Garden
resources (two gardening positions have been cut). This seemed to us a
pity since it has been an attractive garden against the backdrop of the
bush remnant and alongside the sculpture walk. We have discussed the
situation with David Sole who would be very pleased if volunteers from
the Friends would be prepared to take on the task of restoring this
garden and helping maintain it.
Your committee have
agreed this would be worth a try. Two Committee members - Ros Iles and
Kert Snater - have put themselves forward as coordinators of this
project. They will need help from other Friends' members to carry out
the work involved.
Project
At present this
garden is overgrown because it has not been maintained in the recent
past. The main issue is an infestation of convolvulus. We are advised
by Garden staff that what is required to be done is to lift the
existing perennial plants, transfer those worth retaining to the
nursery, and then dig/fork through the whole garden to remove the
convolvulus. Then the garden can be replanted. Some heavy work will be
required in the initial stages but once replanted the garden should be
relatively simple to maintain. Tools, new plants, technical advice, the
removal of debris, the storage of removed plants etc will be provided
by Garden staff (Leanne Killalea and Dale Such will work with us on the
project).
For OSH (and common
sense) reasons, those working on this project will be required to have
gardening gloves and, if digging, safety (capped) shoes or boots.
We plan to begin the
project on Monday 8 March at 9am and then on successive Mondays at the
same time until the initial clearing-up is completed. We hope the
garden can be replanted in the spring.
We would welcome any member of the Friends (or non members also) to
help with this project. You can come at any time and stay as long as
you wish. It would be helpful if you could notify Ros (email 'Rosalind Iles' telephone 499 6560) if you intend to take part in this project. We hope you might inform other potential volunteers.
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